49ers remain ahead of Patriots in NFL Power Rankings

Scott Cullen11/29/2012 4:32:08 PM

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For the second straight week, the San Francisco 49ers are on top of the TSN.ca NFL Power Rankings.

A convincing win at New Orleans appears to have solidified Colin Kaepernick's status as the 49ers' starting quarterback, though it will be interesting to see what happens when Kaepernick struggles and/or loses.

The Niners needed a strong win to hold top spot because the New England Patriots could have easily climbed to top spot after their blowout win over the Jets on Thanksgiving Night.

Among the big movers this week, the Chicago Bears won easily, 28-10, over Minnesota with starting quarterback Jay Cutler returning to the lineup. That moved the Bears from 14 to six in the rankings. Indianapolis climbed from 15 to 10 with a win over Buffalo, along with the return of a few injured players.

Falling down the rankings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped from eight to 12. A one-point loss to Atlanta brings no shame, but losing a starting cornerback from what is already a porous secondary could present some problems.

Seattle's loss at Miami dropped them from nine to 13 and Minnesota's role in the Bears' beatdown, combined with the absence of wide receiver Percy Harvin, resulted in the Vikings sinking from 11 to 17 this week.